Many languages of Sub-Saharan Africa are tonal languages and many linguistic and ethnomusicological experts have made the link between tonal languages and pitch and rhythm in 'drum music'. In sub-Saharan Africa where such languages are spoken musical instruments, especially talking drums, were used to mimic the pattern of speech to 'talk out' the knowledge, proverbs and communicateeven long distances. Talking drums, much as the same way telephones, faxes or e-mails are used in order for people to stay in touch, were an active method of communication between peoples in West and Central Africa and other parts of the continent. Talking drums which have each end covered in animal hide are usually carved out of hard wood. Along the outside of the drum between each end run several strings that can be squeezed by the drummer to change the pitch of the tune. This change in pitch is the equivalent to the change in tone of the language that was being spoken which meant that the communication was extremely sophisticated. Talking drums were a very open mode of communication. In order to be able to send out messages that only the intended receiver would understand-master drummers encoded false meanings into some of the common phrases they used. Tonal languages are very well suited to this purpose because a word that is spelt exactly the same way using the latin alphabet has two completely different meanings depending on the tone that is being used. So you can see how with a little ingenuity the meaning of a message can be completely changed.